IL6 and necrotizing enterocolitis: In our LPS- induced monolayers inflammation model and NEC rats, an increase in the production of IL-6 and TNF-α was shown to precede the intestinal barrier dysfunction, while bifidobacterium protected intestinal epithelial barrier function and significantly decreased the production of IL-6 and TNF-α both in Caco-2 monolayers and in a rat NEC model.